by This Diva

There’s no question that bananas are among my favorite fruits. I love eating them solo, in fruit salads, in desserts, or drinking them in smoothies. Through the years I’ve learned a few things about buying and storing bananas. These tips have enabled me to maximize my grocery budget by eliminating waste of both money and food. 

Green, Yellow, Spotted Brown Bananas

The color of a banana’s skin indicates its degree of starchiness and sweetness. Whether green, yellow, or spotted brown, bananas offer a variety of serving options.

Photo of plantain (left), and three varieties of bananas . (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The greener the skin is the starchier the fruit is in taste, and the firmer it is in texture.  I often hear people refer to green plantain as green bananas, but they are not. Plantain are a different fruit. Some people like to fry green bananas; I don’t (although I do enjoy cooking with green plantain).

As the banana fruit begins to sweeten the skin begins to yellow, and the fruit begins to soften. When brown spots begin to appear on the skin the fruit is even sweeter, and softer. At this point the fruit is on its way to becoming overripe. I like to use overripe bananas in desserts and smoothies, because I can lower (and sometimes eliminate) the amount of added sweetener I’m using.

Hung as Opposed to Stacked

(Photo credit: (nz)dave)

I prefer to buy bananas from stores that display them hung as opposed to stacked on surfaces. This is because I’ve found that the more contact a banana has with a surface the more the chances of bruising occur. In fact, I have a banana stand on which I hang them at home (until, of course, I’m down to my last banana).

Organic -vs- Conventional Bananas

I buy organic bananas whenever I can afford to, and that’s usually when they’re on sale. Since they are on the lower end of the pesticide residue contaminated chart I generally by those that are conventionally grown.

Freeze Bananas

frozen bananas (Photo credit: wanderingone)

If I see them ripening faster than I can eat them I will freeze bananas to use at a future time in fruit smoothies. A frozen banana added to a smoothie eliminates my need to use ice cubes. I just blend a little 100% fruit juice, some fresh fruit, and the frozen banana.

Before placing bananas in the freezer I simply peel the skins off, and place the fruits in freezer bags. I’ve saved many many from being tossed in the trash by doing this. 

How do you buy or store bananas?

Thanks for visiting my blog, and please…..save some bananas for me this week!